692 [Assembly 



stance necessary to support vegetation, and vegetable life in any other 

 form, whether it be wheat, corn, fruit, flowers, shrubs or vines. The 

 slightest examination of this land, shows that it is not barren, not 

 sterile, there are millions of tons of vegetable matter now growing 

 all over that whole region, with a vigor and energy unsurpassed, 

 unequalled in the production of vegetable life, in any other part of 

 the State. 



There is not strength, wealth, nor power sufficient in the whole 

 Island to render this great wilderness what it is by a strange misno- 

 mer called, a barren; what force and labor, of man and horses 

 would it require to destroy vegetable life and render that great sur- 

 face an arid waste, destitute of trees and plants! Why, it is impos- 

 sible, whilst the sun shines, and the seasons roll in their wonted 

 course around the Island, with light and heat, and showers, and seed 

 time and harvest. 



The elements that work with ceaseless power throughout the vege- 

 table kingdom, are so prolific, so abundant all over and around this 

 great forest, that their processes have been irresistible, for more than 

 a hundred years to the axe and the firej if by some extiaordinary 

 power, vegetation could be destroyed there in a day, it would come 

 again in the night, whilst the causes that so rapidly reproduce the 

 forest continue. Why is it with all these facts, with all these evi- 

 dences of vitality in the soil and all around the Island, that so large 

 tracts of land here remain unoccupied, uncultivated? when cultiva- 

 ted fields, and gardens of fruits and flowers might easily be made to 

 delight the eye, and gladden the heart of the traveller. It is be- 

 cause an opinion has been formed, and allowed to take possession of 

 the public mind, that it cannot be cultivated; that this is mere opin- 

 ion, mere prejudice, there can be no doubt; the great tests of truths 

 analogy, and experiment, have never been applied, or only in a limi- 

 ted manner, and then the result always in favor of successful cultiva- 

 tion, as in every instance when trial has been made, the land produ- 

 ces as other parts of the Island when treated in a similar manner. 



The evidence against their cultivation is all of a negative charac- 

 ter, a prejudicitim, which it is labor to remove, beyond the power 

 of an individual to accomplish; and it is to you, sir, we come for 

 aid, to you and your compeers of the American Institute, that from 

 its high, and proud pre-eminence, with its hundred hands and Argus 

 eyes, guarding, protecting, and watching over agriculture, commerce 

 and the arts, to roll back this dark cloud of error and prejudice that 



